Small molecule crystallography past, present, and future: a career long review of chemical crystallography

Abstract

This manuscript is an evaluation of the current state of small molecule crystallography using the author’s education and experiences as an example. It deals with the history of crystallography over the last 50 years, the author’s experiences and suggests areas of improvement for the future. The verification and publication of crystallographic data is highlighted.

Keywords:

• history
• structure validation
• publication practices
• crystallographic education

Acknowledgements

First I must express my great appreciation to John Helliwell for inviting me to submit this review. I feel I have been given a unique chance to present my personal views and observations. I hope this will spark debate among the small molecule crystallographic community. I would also like to acknowledge the small molecule service crystallography community. This is a group of scientists with an amazing range of talents and skills. Their readiness to provide help and share information is unsurpassed in any scientific area. They have all taught me much and have listened to my rantings and provided insight and education. I only hope they appreciate how special they are. Obviously, in the future crystallography will change but I have no doubt they will adapt and maintain the same camaraderie and hopefully grow in importance and respect in the eyes of other scientists.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Phillip E. Fanwick

Phillip Fanwick is a native of Los Angles, California. He received his Bachelors of Science Degree from Tulane University in 1969. He received a Master of Science in Chemistry and Doctor of Philosophy in Inorganic Chemistry in 1971 and 1977, respectively. From 1972 to 1975 he served as an officer in the United States Air Force. After completing his Ph.D. he spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher with Professor F. Albert Cotton at Texas A&M University. He served as an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky from 1979 to 1985 and then as the service crystallographer at Purdue University where he retired in January 2016. He has been a co-editor of Acta Crystallographa Section C since 2009.